Barry Yusufu
Barry Yusufu is a self-taught Nigerian artist known for his rapid climb through the international contemporary ranks as a greatly desired and highly collectable talent. Born in 1996 in Nigeria, he works with gradated charcoal drawing techniques and boldly coloured acrylic paints to create his icon-esque works that reflect both a deep-rooted Christian faith and an intense desire to elevate the image of African men and women in art. Yusufu cites his work as a reflection of an intense desire to reflect the modern African and sees it as an opportunity to foster an evolution of Africanness and a spark to level up.
Much of Yusufu’s art is inspired by outdated and patronising images and portrayals of African people and the kinds of images and outdated Euro-centric depictions of people in power seen in the museums and galleries of his youth. He tackles these assumptions with vigour, determined to break the moulds of clichéd African imagery with his portraiture.
In keeping with the Godliness (his words) of his portraits, Yusufu focuses on finessing facial features at the end of his painting process, determined to enhance each subject’s uniquely beautiful features, raising them to iconic status. Yusufu has showcased his work throughout Europe, in New York and London - without a doubt a contemporary African art name to note.
Country • Nigeria
Medium • Oil and acrylic on canvas
First exhibition with christopher moller gallery • 2021
EXPLORE HIS WORK
Previous exhibitions by Barry Yusufu
2023
THE SOUND OF OUR SOULS, UTA Artist Space, Los Angeles, CA, United States (Group Show)
IN LOVING MEMORY OF LOVE, Gordon Gallery, Israel. (Solo exhibition)
INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa. - Group Exhibition
2022
BEHOLD, SUN’s PEOPLE, Luce Gallery, Turin - Italy. (Solo exhibition)
ZUT, A Gallery Collaboration, Paris - France. (Group exhibition)
BLACK ARTISTIC HERITAGE, Opera Gallery, Paris - France. (Group exhibition)
KIAF, Eduardo Secci Gallery, Seoul - South Korea. (Group exhibition)
ART BASEL, The Breeder Gallery, Switzerland. (Group exhibition)
THE BREEDER OPEN STUDIO, The Breeder Gallery, Athina - Greece. (Group exhibition)
DALLAS ART FAIR, Luce Gallery, Texas - United States of America. (Group exhibition)
2021
UNTITLED ART FAIR, Luce Gallery, Miami- United States of America.
ARTX CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, Pacers Gallery, Lagos - Nigeria.
1-54 CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, Luce Gallery, London - United Kingdom.
FRIEZE ART FAIR, The Breeder Gallery, London - United Kingdom.
LISTE ART FAIR BASEL, The Breeder Gallery, Switzerland.
MESCALINE, A Band of Vices, Los Angeles - United States of America. (Group Exhibition)
INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR | DIGITAL EVENT, Christopher Moller Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (September) - Group exhibition.
BREEDER GALLERY AT LISTE ART FAIR BASEL, Basel, Switzerland, (September) - Group exhibition.
I LOVE WHO YOU ARE, I LOVE WHO YOU AIN’T, Bill Brady Gallery, Miami, United States of America (August) – Group exhibition.
MISA ART FAIR, Koenig Gallery, Berlin, Germany (August) - Group exhibition.
154 ART FAIR, Luce Gallery, New York, United States of America (May) – Group exhibition.
FRIEZE ART FAIR, Breeder Gallery, New York, United States of America (May) – Group exhibition.
LIFE IN FLOWERS, Luce Gallery, Turin, Italy (May) – Group exhibition.
STOP, LISTEN, CFHill, Stockholm, Sweden (January) – Group exhibition.
ALOHA, MR HAND, Thinkspace Projects, Los Angeles, United States of America (January) – Group exhibition.
2020
FOR FOLK SAKE! Contemporary Artists x the American Folk Art Museum. The Benefit Auction.
THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE, Unit London. Group exhibition curated by Azu Nwabogu.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCY, African Artists Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria.
LOCALITY AND THE STATUS QUO, Pacers Art Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria. Group exhibition curated by Wunika Mukan.
SAY IT LOUD! Christie’s.Group exhibition curated by Destinee Ross Suttons.
HARLEM ART SHOW, Harlem Arts Alliance, New York, USA. Group exhibition.
Collections
RACLIN MURPHY MUSEUM, NORE DAME UNIVERSITY, Four works on permanent display, IL, United States.